Baltimore marketer settles EPA tank charges

Nick SnowWashington Correspondent

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 15 -- Carroll Independent Fuel Co. reached a consent agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency Nov. 14 in which the Baltimore-based heating oil, gasoline, and products distributor agreed to pay a $284,156 civil penalty and complete a special environmental project at 32 of its facilities in Maryland.

The alleged violations were documented through multifacility underground storage tank audits submitted to EPA by Carroll's auditor after the company entered into a consent agreement and final order on June 30 to audit all of its facilities for compliance.

As part of the settlement, Carroll neither admitted nor denied liability for the violations. The company also agreed to implement a $447,000 environmental project, to be determined, to secure significant environmental or public health protections, EPA said.